Term 2, 2024
Hello everyone! It is now Winter (finally) and everything has turned green at Ms Calleja’s Classroom. I am seeing lots of growth and blossoming in my students as well – from the early readers to the ATAR students. Sometimes we think that we are not seeing progress but then there it is – and the colours are beautiful and deep. Our art area is now fully operational and we are making use of the space to create art that enhances our phonics instruction. This term we started with the topic of Heroes and Villains but then moved onto more tailored lessons. The work ethic that my students have shown is nothing short of heroic. Enjoy your well-deserved break everyone – 11 weeks is a long term!
Next term is a 10 week term.
Group Sessions: If you are paying for the term you can pay upfront (normal price is $700 but upfront price is $650) in 3 installments ($250, $200, $200 with discount) or lesson by lesson $70.
Junior Group Sessions (1 hour) If you are paying for the term, you can pay upfront (normal price is $600 but upfront price is $550) in 3 installments ($200, $200, $150) or lesson by lesson $60.
Ask me about Ronald McDonald Learning Programs, NDIS, Department of Communities or Returned Services Funding. You may qualify for subsidies or free tuition.
Welcome to our new class member – Nutmeg – my daughter Jacqui’s puppy. Nutmeg has turned the classroom upside-down with her energy and curiosity. Thank you to all the children and parents who have welcomed our fluffy baby with gentleness and patience.
Growing Together
〰️
〰️
Growing Together 〰️ 〰️
Small Group Tuition - Little Ones
This group have covered all of the phonemes and graphemes in Jolly Phonics 1 and many of the spelling sets in Jolly Phonics 2 – circling back over them to practice them deeply through games, art, writing and song. I am seeing some greater confidence in de-coding and reading fluency. The spelling and handwriting is improving with patience and care. Take home activities have started to be introduced so that a policy of “little and often” practice can embed knowledge deep into growing brains. Vowel digraphs have been a big focus this term with an emphasis on long and short vowel recognition and alternate ways to make the same sound – examples are crown and couch. We are also learning spelling rules – like When Two Vowels Go Walking, the First One Does the Talking.
Small Group Tuition - Primary & Secondary
Small group tuition this term has been more tailored to fit the study that students are doing at school, so each group’s lesson has looked very different. One group may be concentrating on spelling and maths, while another is working on creative writing, then persuasive speeches. The term started with the topic heroes and villains and then followed the needs of each group to cover a variety of skills, genres and text types. All students have done well and have battled through the illnesses that often pop up at this time of year.
Senior School Students
ATAR and General Students have been feeling the pressures that these final schooling years pile on. Year 10 students are busy trying to select subjects and pathways for the next two years. In between all these stressful experiences, there have been joyous events too like school balls, camps, getting P plates and having part time jobs. In our classroom we have been working on expanding our knowledge of texts, genres, writing techniques, intertexuality, analysis and voice. We have been working on how to optimise our chances of success by picking the right questions in the exam to showcase our best knowledge.
One on one students or day students
I have students coming to me for one on one sessions or classes during the day. All students are hitting their goals or working towards them with determination and creativity. We all have different reasons to come to tutoring, some want to pass tests to get into courses, some want guidance on their individual learning journeys outside the schooling system, others have work or study goals for continual improvement. I applaud all of you for your continued dedication to reaching your dreams.
Other News
I completed a two day course at Evolve WA about Trauma Informed Practice. This reinforced my knowledge about the processes that happen in the brain and nervous system when people (especially children) experience a traumatic event or series of events. The focus of this program was on how to create a trauma-informed teaching environment that helps students feel safe enough to learn.
Free-range Educators is an organisation of teachers who are working outside the school system. We are starting to grow and develop and have had two meetings so far for planning and development. We will support each other with collaborations and professional development and refer clients to each other if there is a need.
Speaking of free-range…we are now selling eggs for $5.00 a carton. Just ask.
Housekeeping and Reminders
This term has been shocking for illness and unexpected things, so many of you (myself included) have had to cancel on the day. Missed lessons with less than 24 hours notice still need to be paid (except for special circumstances discussed with me). Usually my policy is to offer catchup lessons in the holidays, however I will be in Thailand for the whole holidays (yay!!!) so I will contact you if there are any lessons that you have paid for that can be carried over to next term. If you don’t hear from me, then all is good.
Please continue to borrow books from the cubby library (and remember to bring any back that you have finished reading). If you have a THRASS chart that you no longer use, please return that too.
See you in class, soon!